Silver Millennium Life Bonds
Rocky Oberlin
Chapter 19

Disclaimer: It's been over a year and I still don't have ownership of Ronin Warriors or Sailor Moon.

To all who have stuck with me so far: THANK YOU!! The nice comments are greatly appreciated.


Windy was good on her word to White Blaze and she got him the deer she promised. Several people in the group living in the house looked a little green when she brought home the field dressed deer, but the tiger was all around joyous. Mia only thought of the fact that at least he wouldn't need to be fed that night.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Setsuna sat with her adopted daughter watching the bearers of Hardrock and the Summer armors play a game on the television when they both decided to go talk with the Ancient and their landlady. Both were in the library looking up more information on Mia's computer about the armors and trying to figure out how the reincarnated souls managed to receive them.

"You would think that it had something to do with what was happening in the Silver Millennium," pondered Mia as she typed in another search.

"That is a possibility," said Setsuna as she stepped into the room. "Power tends to draw to power."

"And the princes had power of their own before being encased in the power of the Silver Crystal," added Hotaru.

"So, why did we get brought here?" asked Lady Kayura.

"Because you defended the Earth prince the princess loved and the Mars prince. You didn't have to do it, but you took it up as your sworn duty," answered Setsuna.

"And I suspect that the Ancient knew that you were special," added Mia. "Or the armors did and chose you for that reason."

"I'm just glad that we have help," said Hotaru. "I didn't like going against Chaos the last time. If we had to do it alone this time without the others to help, then I don't think we would be coming back, especially the princess."

"What happened the last time you faced Chaos?" asked Lady Kayura.

"Every one of us lost our star seeds except for the visiting Sailor Soldiers and the princess. The princess fought Chaos back with everything she had," said Hotaru. "It was her lonely call that brought us back from where we were." The Sailor of Death and Rebirth looked sad. "The princess has been in contact with death too many times. I think that if she faced it one more time, she won't come back."

"I think I agree with you on that one," Lady Kayura nodded.

"A question," asked Mia, "what is a 'star seed'?"

"It's what makes us Sailor Soldiers," answered Setsuna. "It is a part of the planet we serve and it connects us to it."

"Ah, that answers my question."

"Is there anything else that you are trying to find, Miss Mia?" asked Hotaru.

"Not really," Mia answered absently as she started to look through her computer programs again. "I just want to get some of the things my grandfather had put in copied and looked over." She turned and smiled apologetically to the three in the room with her. "I'm sorry for being such a rotten hostess."

Lady Kayura smiled at her friend. "I understand. If anything, I may as for a copy for the Dynasty when we ever get back. It may be helpful if we ever have to fight again."

"Let's hope that never happens," said Hotaru. "I don't think any of us could stand another war."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Rowen was content. After the first few weeks of he and his life bond always being together, they finally decided that neither one was going to disappear on the other. Serena was more confidant and Rowen a little more open about some of his views. Right now he knew that his love was in the kitchen with Cye, Lita, and Windy trying to learn how to cook. From the sounds of the comments the two Outer partners and three of the four Seasonals were acting out the part of the peanut gallery. The surprised "AHH!" and the muffled laughing "Opps" told Rowen that the peanut gallery had been dealt with in a comical manner. Seckmet and Cale decided to retreat before something else happened.

"Those four are dangerous in the kitchen," complained Seckmet.

"Who are?" asked Rowen.

"Torrent, the two princesses, and especially the Lady Guardian," answered Cale.

"I'M NOT A LADY!" was yelled out from the kitchen.

"You can say that again," muttered Seckmet.

"I HEARD THAT!"

"I wonder if you should start running now my friend," said Rowen. "You may not want to know what she will do about that comment."

"I'll keep it in mind, Strata."

"So what are you doing so far from your life bond, Strata?" asked Cale.

"Reading."

"We kinda saw that; we were wondering why you weren't in there helping Serena," said Seckmet.

"Because Cye threatened great bodily harm if I tried to go in while he was working with Serena. I don't think he still trusts me in the kitchen after my last attempt."

"What happened?" asked the interested Seasonals.

"I almost blew up the microwave," he answered sheepishly. "If Ryo hadn't come in, I might have. Cye almost blew up though; it was his good pan that was in it." The two were on the floor laughing by the time he was done relating the tale. "I don't think it was that funny."

"I think that they are relieved that there are more then just them who can't cook," said Anubis as he came into the room. He looked over to his friends on the floor. "They had a hard time in the kitchen as well. Lady Kayura almost banished them for a few of their fiascos."

"Oh. That's comforting." Rowen returned to his book.

Since they couldn't pick on the Ronin any more and it was open season on any and all commentators in the kitchen the two decided that they should find something else to do. It ended up in them helping Ryo and Sage with the laundry, seeing as they were helping generate the larger loads.

"I can't believe that we are doing this," muttered Seckmet.

"Welcome to the 21st century," said Sage. "We all do something around the house and now you can help."

There was some talk of injustice, but plans for mutiny were left just as unvoiced plans.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Luna and Artimas were happy that their charge was finally happier then when she had been in the other dimension. Serena had acted bubbly, but she had a hidden pain that they couldn't ease. With the Guardian bringing them all to this other dimension, she had perked up even with the threat of another war. But they knew that the quiet wasn't going to last. Even their new tiger friend knew that trouble was on the way. They were worried when they had been told of the "warning" left on the lawn that morning. Now they had to know what the Guardian was going to do.

It took some time, but they did find Windy alone for once during the day. Well, she wasn't really alone, but seeing how White Blaze was as worried as they were, the lunar cats thought he should hear this as well.

"Guardian, can we speak with you?" asked Artimas.

"What do you want to know?" asked Windy as she opened her eyes from the relaxed position against the tiger's side.

"We were wondering if we were going to have to prepare the Sailors for an attack or if we are going to wait for Chaos to come for us," said Luna.

"That depends," answered the ghost.

"On what?" asked Artimas.

"On if the others want to wait or if they want to force an attack. It could go either way."

"And we could lose if we stay on defensive just as well as if we were defeated in an offensive strike," said Artimas.

"True," nodded Windy. "But we aren't the ones who are going to fight. The armor bearers and the Sailor Soldiers are going to do the fighting. You will be here protecting the Lady Mia and I won't have as much say in the battle."

"Will you be able to fight though?" asked Luna, in fear for Serena.

"Oh, I will be fighting, but I won't be able to do anything against Endymion or Chaos. They will have to be dealt with by the ones who are defending the world. I just make sure that they come out a little less battered in the end." The ghost sighed and looked out to the woods. "I get tired sometimes, you know that? I have been doing this for so long and yet if I told you the date of my death, you would say that it hasn't been that long." She gave a quiet laugh. "I better quit before I get myself depressed." Windy looked back at the three cats. "And you have humans to return to. I know that Serena would like to talk to you two and Ryo would like to see you right now, White Blaze. I think they know the choice as well as we do."

"Thank you, Guardian," bowed the lunar cats. They took their leave to find their princess and Windy allowed White Blaze to find his human.

When they had left, another black cat came out of the shadows to sit on Windy's lap. The ghost started to pet the newcomer and mused, "They will have to make a decision soon, Missy. I'm just afraid that they will have to fight in enemy territory like their other fights." She sighed once again and buried her face in the cat's fur. "I wish that this could have been avoided, but I guess that Murphy's Law isn't done with them yet." Windy let the cat go and stood up. "I should go see just what they plan on doing and what I should get ready for."

The cat gave a meow and slid back into the shadows. Windy took what little comfort from her old friend that she could and went to see if they were going to wait or decide that Endymion and Chaos needed to be surprised for once. She didn't look forward to either decision.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Ryo was reminded of the Dynasty wars once again as everyone had gathered to talk about what should be done next. He noted that Windy came in and sat in a corner to listen without disturbing the proceeding and that she looked tired. It was her eyes that showed the fatigue that weighed down on her, but she was willing to sit and wait for her advice to be asked for and given.

"We should go in," argued Haruka. "They have been giving us threats and almost took the princess on two occasions."

"But if we go into the Dynasty, we will be making it even easier for Endymion and Chaos to get what they want," argued back Lita. "I had to watch Serena die too many times to do that one more time."

"How do you think we feel?" asked Cye. "We almost lost Ryo when he stopped Tulpa this last time we fought him. If it wasn't for the Jewel of Life, then we would have lost him for good."

"You almost lost the Mars prince?" asked Michiru, startled. Even the other Sailors looked surprised at the thought of losing the last loyal royalty from Mars.

Ryo got uncomfortable at the idea and the stares. "Yeah, but I was brought back. Don't worry about it."

"But we do," said Rowen. "If you and Serena have the same problem of having to die, then what would we do?"

"Bury three bodies," commented Windy. "Or four or five depending on how Sage and Lita take it." Her callous remark brought attention to her. "You are looking at the 'what if's' and 'could be's'. You need to look at what we've got right now and plan with what we have. Can we afford a direct attack on the Nether Realm? Can we stay right where we are and wait more? What will the costs be if we do either one?"

"Wouldn't the costs be in the realm of 'what if ' and could be'?" asked Kento. "Because they sound like it to me."

"No," answered Anubis. "It looks at what would happen if we don't or if we do something. If we attacked, how would we fair in the battle and what could happen to the Mortal Realm while we were gone? If we stayed and waited for Chaos to attack, would we be ready or would we have exhausted ourselves with worry? That is what she is pushing us to."

"Okay, what would happen if we decided to attack Chaos and Endymion?" asked Sage.

"We would have the upper hand for a while due to the surprise of the attack," said Cale. "But we would lose that advantage as soon as the first regiment of soldiers didn't report back."

"And if we stayed here?" asked Serena.

"There is a good possibility that Endymion could come back and this time succeed in taking you away from us," said Setsuna. "We would have to be on guard all the time."

"And that exhausts soldiers quicker then fighting," said Dais.

"Then we will have to attack," said Lita quietly.

"It looks like it," said Serena sadly. She buried her head in her arms on the table. "I don't want to fight again."

"None of us do, kitten," said Haruka. "But if we want to keep our peace, we will have to defend it sometimes."

"And that means that we should get ready for battle now," said Lady Kayura. "If what we were told those few weeks ago stayed the same, then the Nether Realm won't be friendly."

"No," agreed Ryo. "If they're anything like Tulpa, then it won't be." He quietly sighed and pet White Blaze. They both looked in the corner that Windy sat in. She was impassive, but her eyes betrayed the sadness she felt. She didn't want to do this either. He wondered if any of them really wanted to.